WFP Unveils Insightful July Report on Iran: Key Findings and Implications

The World Food Program (WFP) has recently published a comprehensive report detailing its activities in Iran for the month of July. This report highlights the ongoing support provided to vulnerable communities, including Afghan and Iraqi refugees, as well as local Iranian teachers. Let’s delve into the specifics of this crucial assistance program.

In July, WFP food assistance reached a total of 33,269 beneficiaries, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to addressing food insecurity among refugee populations. Here are some key highlights from the report:

• Staple Food Basket: Refugees received essential food items, including fortified wheat flour (12 kg per person per month) and vegetable oil (810 ml per person per month).
• Cash-Based Transfers: Following adjustments to WFP’s Minimum Expenditure Basket (MEB) in November 2024, the cash transfer values were revised in January. In July, the cash transfers amounted to:
  • IRR 5 million (USD 7.2) for households headed by men.
  • IRR 6 million (USD 8.6) for households headed by women.
• Exceptional Support: In light of recent escalations affecting refugees’ livelihoods, WFP provided an exceptional additional cash transfer equivalent to July’s entitlement to all beneficiaries in settlements, aiming to safeguard their food security amidst challenges.

WFP Iran’s school-based programs, including school feeding and educational incentives, have been temporarily suspended for the summer holidays and are set to resume with the new academic year in October.

Additionally, WFP took significant steps to support refugees with specific dietary needs. By July, the organization provided extra cash support of IRR 9.7 million (US$14.13) per person to 52 refugee celiac patients, replacing their usual food entitlement.

Furthermore, WFP extended assistance to 388 refugees with disabilities in July, providing additional monthly cash support of IRR 3 million (US$4.3) to enhance their living conditions. This support reached beneficiaries across ten settlements in provinces such as Kerman, Lorestan, and West Azerbaijan.

To foster economic resilience among refugees, WFP continued supporting 24 income-generating initiatives across 18 settlements, benefiting approximately 300 refugees (42 percent of whom are women). These initiatives included:

• Welding
• Tailoring
• Baking
• Farming

In July, WFP also advanced the procurement process for bakery equipment destined for Kerman settlements, estimated at a value of USD 30,000.

Over the past six months, there has been a substantial return of undocumented Afghans, with over one million individuals returning to Afghanistan. In contrast, approximately 35,000 registered refugees in designated settlements in Iran continue to receive regular assistance from WFP, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other humanitarian agencies.

Despite the support provided, these communities remain heavily reliant on external aid for necessities like food, healthcare, and education. The sustainability of this assistance is crucial for their stability and well-being.

In 2024, WFP’s combination of in-kind and cash assistance successfully addressed the food needs of over 33,000 vulnerable refugees in Iran, enabling 70 percent of them to maintain an acceptable level of food consumption—a figure that remains stable compared to the previous year.

As of August, WFP has increased the value of cash transfer entitlements by 25 percent, actively working to mitigate the immediate economic challenges faced by refugees.

WFP has maintained a presence in Iran since 1987, primarily focusing on food security for refugees, particularly those from Afghanistan. Iran has hosted refugees for over four decades, with many living in urban, peri-urban, and rural areas, often integrated with local communities.

However, the most vulnerable refugees, living in 20 settlements across 13 provinces, face precarious food security situations that necessitate ongoing humanitarian assistance from WFP. The organization provides food assistance, educational support, and livelihood opportunities through various initiatives aimed at improving the well-being of eligible refugees.

In light of Iran’s challenging economic landscape in recent years, Afghan refugees have encountered numerous obstacles, including limited income opportunities and reduced purchasing power, which have adversely affected their food security. To address these pressing needs, WFP has modified its Interim Country Strategic Plan (ICSP 2023-2027) to better align with the current requirements, ensuring continued support through adjusted cash entitlements and food rations.

As a result, approximately 35,000 of the most vulnerable documented refugees, residing in 20 settlements across 13 provinces in Iran, benefit from the sustained food assistance provided by WFP.